Dmitri Matheny Group
Ott & Hunter proudly welcomes back one of the scene’s most tireless and soulful musicians: flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny, who returns with an all‑star ensemble featuring vibraphonist Susan Pascal and bassist Rick Leppanen for an evening of truly memorable music. Matheny’s program weaves together lush silver‑screen themes and beloved selections from the Great American Songbook, and this year the group has been thrilling audiences with inventive, high‑energy takes on American classics—from the lyrical warmth of Louis Armstrong to the swinging exuberance of Louis Prima and Louis Jordan.
Acclaimed for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American flugelhornist Dmitri Mathey has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music). An honors graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Dmitri Matheny vaulted onto the jazz scene in the 1990s as the protégé of jazz legend Art Farmer. Since then he has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal international following, touring extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, traveling to 19 countries. With over 100 recordings to his credit, Dmitri Matheny has released 12 albums as a leader. His 2022 release "Cascadia", is a reflection of the natural beauty of the Northwest- "an all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States” (All About Jazz). The San Francisco Chronicle calls Matheny “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players.”
https://dmitrimatheny.com
Seattle jazz vibraphonist Susan Pascal has taken her music through four tours of Singapore and concerts, workshops and clinics across the United States. Her Pacific Northwest appearances include the Earshot Jazz Festival and Centrum Jazz Port Townsend, and as a special guest artist with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and Seattle’s Gypsy jazz group, Pearl Django.
Pascal’s eclectic musical interests are reflected in her own projects. Susan Pascal’s SOUL SAUCE quintet is a tribute to Latin jazz icon Cal Tjader, and her new BRAZIL PROJECT band features the rich rhythmic and melodic traditions of Brazil. Her straight-ahead jazz group, the SUSAN PASCAL QUARTET has been nominated twice for Best Acoustic Group by Seattle’s Earshot Jazz.
https://www.susanpascal.com/
A native of Marquette, Michigan, bassist Rick Leppanen has a degree in mathematics and music from Northern Michigan University. His playing experience includes rock (he started as a rock ‘n’ roll guitarist at age 17), country, and jazz bands. He has been a jazz educator, teaching in the Marquette public schools under a grant from the NEA and Michigan Council for the Arts, and also taught at the Michigan Tech. Summer Youth Program for seven years. He has toured nationally with show groups, and since 1985 he has freelanced as a jazz bassist in the Seattle area. Rick recorded with the group Room to Move, with blues guitarist Eric Madis, and others, and has been a member of Pearl Django since June 1998.
